Read Online Hold Your Breath 01 - Stone Devil Duke by K.J. Jackson - Free Book Online
Authors: K.J. Jackson
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authority, that the Marquess of Southfork was inquiring about you tonight.”
“The M arquess of Southfork?” Aggie hid the catch in her throat. “Do I know him?”
“No, I do not believe so, but maybe you have seen him? Dark-blond hair, handsome—extremely dashing—on his way up in society.”
Aggie shook her head. “I would pay no heed, Aunt Bea . Rumors. I am sure it was nothing.”
Nothing except the duke finding a way to ruin her life, Aggie thought.
“Oh, do not be so sure, sweetie. He is quite the charming man. Wealthy and well-respected, too. Howard, you knew his father?”
“Y es, yes, I do recall. Fine man, I remember. Sad ending though, I believe.”
“D ribble on that, Howard. Anyway, Aggie, he was inquiring after you—we shall have to make certain to show up at some of the same functions as he over the next weeks.”
“Really, there is no need to, Aunt Bea,” Aggie said “I am positive it was of no consequence.”
“T here is no use in disregarding this. It will hurt nothing to gain proximity to the gentleman—I will make plans immediately.”
Aggie produced a smile for her aunt. Satisfied, Aunt Beatrix leaned back into the cushions, a plotting look on her face. Aggie had learned long ago it was much easier to just placate her aunt, rather than waste time in trying to dissuade her from a course she had already set on. And she had decided to get Aggie a husband. The coach fell silent again and Aggie returned to running through the checklist in her mind to get ready for the night.
The carriage arrived at Aggie’s townhouse , and after promises that she would attend the Appleton party the next night, she escaped inside with no more talk of finding a husband.
From the front window, s he watched their carriage amble down the street, then continued quickly up to her room to change.
At the door to her room , Aggie paused when she saw light spilling out from the crack under her mother’s doorway. A stab of hope went through her.
Quietly, she went and opened the heavy door. She was greeted with her mother sitting in bed, her now grey hair hanging tangled around her face, staring at nothing, her hand monotonously patting her thigh over and over.
Aggie swallowed hard and walked over to the single candle that was lit next to the bed, softly chattering to her mother about the beauty of the ball. There was no acknowledgement of Aggie’s presence.
Aggie hid a sigh as she grabbed her mother’s shoulders and gently pushed her back onto the pillows. The arm stopped moving, but her mother’s face remained blank, eyes seeing nothing. Some days were better than others. But tonight her mother had slipped into her lost world.
Aggie snuffed the candle and turned to the door, her heart heavy in her chest. Grabbing the knob, she glanced back at her mother, now illuminated in the hall light.
Maybe, just maybe, if her father’s m urderers were brought to justice, the mother she had known and loved might resurface, if only just partially. Aggie would give anything to make that happen.
Aggie stepped into the hallway and quietly closed the door. She moved on to her sister’s room. All was dark, and he r sister was in bed, her breathing deep and even. Aggie turned to leave the room.
“Aggie—wait. Are you leaving again tonight?”
Aggie froze, her hand on the doorknob. She didn’t turn around. “What do you mean, ‘leave’?”
“ Go out again—where do you go? I have seen you leave in those clothes. Those boy clothes. I worry.” Her sister’s voice sounded scared and so very young.
Aggie turned as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she saw her sister sitting up in the four-post bed. She walked over and seated herself next to Lizzie. “It really is nothing to worry about, Lizzie.” Aggie smoothed a strand of curly blond hair out of her sister’s face.
“I jus t have to go out sometimes. Do not fret.” Aggie tried to infuse some enthusiasm into her voice. “We will soon be leaving
“The M arquess of Southfork?” Aggie hid the catch in her throat. “Do I know him?”
“No, I do not believe so, but maybe you have seen him? Dark-blond hair, handsome—extremely dashing—on his way up in society.”
Aggie shook her head. “I would pay no heed, Aunt Bea . Rumors. I am sure it was nothing.”
Nothing except the duke finding a way to ruin her life, Aggie thought.
“Oh, do not be so sure, sweetie. He is quite the charming man. Wealthy and well-respected, too. Howard, you knew his father?”
“Y es, yes, I do recall. Fine man, I remember. Sad ending though, I believe.”
“D ribble on that, Howard. Anyway, Aggie, he was inquiring after you—we shall have to make certain to show up at some of the same functions as he over the next weeks.”
“Really, there is no need to, Aunt Bea,” Aggie said “I am positive it was of no consequence.”
“T here is no use in disregarding this. It will hurt nothing to gain proximity to the gentleman—I will make plans immediately.”
Aggie produced a smile for her aunt. Satisfied, Aunt Beatrix leaned back into the cushions, a plotting look on her face. Aggie had learned long ago it was much easier to just placate her aunt, rather than waste time in trying to dissuade her from a course she had already set on. And she had decided to get Aggie a husband. The coach fell silent again and Aggie returned to running through the checklist in her mind to get ready for the night.
The carriage arrived at Aggie’s townhouse , and after promises that she would attend the Appleton party the next night, she escaped inside with no more talk of finding a husband.
From the front window, s he watched their carriage amble down the street, then continued quickly up to her room to change.
At the door to her room , Aggie paused when she saw light spilling out from the crack under her mother’s doorway. A stab of hope went through her.
Quietly, she went and opened the heavy door. She was greeted with her mother sitting in bed, her now grey hair hanging tangled around her face, staring at nothing, her hand monotonously patting her thigh over and over.
Aggie swallowed hard and walked over to the single candle that was lit next to the bed, softly chattering to her mother about the beauty of the ball. There was no acknowledgement of Aggie’s presence.
Aggie hid a sigh as she grabbed her mother’s shoulders and gently pushed her back onto the pillows. The arm stopped moving, but her mother’s face remained blank, eyes seeing nothing. Some days were better than others. But tonight her mother had slipped into her lost world.
Aggie snuffed the candle and turned to the door, her heart heavy in her chest. Grabbing the knob, she glanced back at her mother, now illuminated in the hall light.
Maybe, just maybe, if her father’s m urderers were brought to justice, the mother she had known and loved might resurface, if only just partially. Aggie would give anything to make that happen.
Aggie stepped into the hallway and quietly closed the door. She moved on to her sister’s room. All was dark, and he r sister was in bed, her breathing deep and even. Aggie turned to leave the room.
“Aggie—wait. Are you leaving again tonight?”
Aggie froze, her hand on the doorknob. She didn’t turn around. “What do you mean, ‘leave’?”
“ Go out again—where do you go? I have seen you leave in those clothes. Those boy clothes. I worry.” Her sister’s voice sounded scared and so very young.
Aggie turned as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she saw her sister sitting up in the four-post bed. She walked over and seated herself next to Lizzie. “It really is nothing to worry about, Lizzie.” Aggie smoothed a strand of curly blond hair out of her sister’s face.
“I jus t have to go out sometimes. Do not fret.” Aggie tried to infuse some enthusiasm into her voice. “We will soon be leaving
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